Military park waves white flag at Atlantis

Scarborough’s Military Adventure Park (MAP) has closed as work starts to clear the site so the town’s new multiplex cinema can be built.

The MAP attraction has been a fixture in North Bay since 2010 when it took over the former Atlantis water park location.

The adventure park’s owner David Hooper confirmed to The Scarborough News that he had called it a day and the attraction would not be re-opening.

He said the closure would be a loss to Scarborough’s tourist economy and lamented the fact the site would be used for a cinema.

“I think this site should be something for everyone,” he said.

“I’m not saying it has to be us, it could be Flamingo Land, but it seems a waste to put a cinema here. “The North Bay seemed like the best location for a cinema but obviously the council thought differently.

“I just wonder how it’s going to help tourism?

“No-one is going to drive to Scarborough from Manchester just to see a film.”

Mr Hooper said he’d explored an option to move the Military Adventure Park to The Bay at Filey but it had not been possible at this time.

Construction on the cinema, restaurants and accommodation on the Atlantis site can begin once the nearby Scarborough Water Park has been completed. The current opening date for the water park is estimated as July.

It is being overseen by the same developer as the water park, Benchmark Leisure Ltd.

The plans for the cinema were passed at the second time of asking in October.

The first time the plans were thrown out by the authority’s planning and development committee by a single vote, with those dissenting feeling that a plan for a cinema in North Street would represent the best option for the town.

However, the council’s cabinet thought differently and refused to put the North Street car park site out to tender, effectively leaving the plans dead in the water.

Speaking in October a spokesman for Benchmark Leisure said:“We are delighted that the council has approved these plans and we look forward to delivering this major investment in the town.

“We have been encouraged by the level of support for these proposals and, alongside the water park and other developments, the plans will provide a major economic boost for Scarborough. The new multiplex cinema and the other elements of the plans will provide new facilities for both residents and visitors and retain the many people who currently travel out of the town to visit a cinema.”